Relief Bulletin: Weekly Humanitarian Highlights in Ethiopia 13 June 2005

NMSA FORECASTS NORMAL ONSET OF MEHER/ KIREMT
The National Meteorological Service Agency (NMSA) presented a synthesis of the recent belg/gu rains and a forecast for the next meher/kiremt rains. The review of the belg and gu rains confirmed a generally favorable season, to an excessive extent in some locations which has resulted in flooding. According to the forecast the meher/kiremt rains are expected to start within the normal onset periods (by late June) and there are enhanced probabilities of better rainfall activities in July and August. The seasonal rains are also predicted to perform better over the western half than the eastern parts of the country. In addition to the natural rainfall variability, below normal rains are predicted in pocket areas of the northeast, east and southern highlands and the Rift Valley regions.

LOW RESPONSE TO THE 2005 AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY APPEAL

The Agricultural Task Force reported in its monthly meeting that the response to the agricultural requirements with in the emergency Appeal has been very low. The task force reported that the response to the seed sector was only 11.2 percent (2,020 tonnes) of the total requirement (17,975 tonnes). Although the response to the livestock sector is only 33 percent it is relatively better as compared to the seed sector. According to the task force the regional distribution of the seed response for Gambella is the highest (41 percent) and for SNNPR is the lowest (3.5 percent). Participants indicated that the low response could be due to poor reporting system of the NGOs to the task force. However, the task force chairman indicated that this will not bring substantial increase on the response rate and urged donors to support the sector. USAID representatives reported that there is possibility of redirecting some funds to the seed sector in Amhara region. The Ethiopian Government and humanitarian partners issued a Flash Update to the 2005 Joint Humanitarian Appeal for Ethiopia on 4 May.

EARLY WARNING AND RESPONSE: PRESENTATION BY USAID

USAID presented a report on the Retrospective Analysis of the 2002/3 Crisis in Ethiopia: Early Warning and Response, at the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) on 31 May. The report is an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Ethiopian Early Warning system and complements the joint DPPC and partners Evaluation of the 2003 crisis presented last year. The major recommendations of the report include better collaboration between the actors, the involvement of the Ministry of Health in the National Early Warning system, and the integration of marketing information in the system.

SC-US CONDUCTS NUTRITIONAL SURVEY IN SHEBIDINO WOREDA, SNNPR

Save the Children-USA, on the request of the Regional Health Bureau and DPPB conducted a nutritional survey from 9 -14 May in Shebidino woreda of Sidama zone. The survey was conducted in collaboration with ACF, the woreda DPPB and Health Bureau and revealed 16.0 percent Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) and 1.0 percent Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with 0.68 under five mortality rate. The survey indicated that the malnutrition rates have increased compared to the last survey conducted in April 2004, which showed 7.8 percent GAM and 0.3 percent SAM. The increase according to the report is due to recurrent drought conditions and absence of continuous relief food distribution. During this survey only 2.6 percent of the 300 surveyed households have received relief food in the past three months. For further information contact: smhusain@savechildren.org.et

FLOOD IN DOLO ODO, SOMALI REGION

Recent flood waters from both the Dawa and Ganale rivers caused a flooding in Dolo Odo woreda of Liben zones, Somali Region. According to reports, six people are dead and several others have been displaced. The flood was reported to have swept away irrigation pumps and has killed hundreds of livestock. Save the Children-UK reported an outbreak of malaria and diarrhea and recommended urgent delivery of medicines. A multi-agency team consisting of zonal authorities, FDPPC, SC-UK, SC-US and other local and international NGOs are in the region to assess the situation.

MULTI-AGENCY REASSESSMENT TEAM RETURNED

The DPPC lead multi-agency flood assessment team returned after eleven days of visit to the flood-affected areas of Somali Region. Humanitarian partners are waiting for their findings to be endorsed by DPPC.

POLIO CAMPAIGN TARGETS 80,589 CHILDREN IN GAMBELLA

Gambella Regional Health Bureau, with the support of UNICEF, carried out the second round of house-to-house polio campaign in the region targeting 80,589 children under-five from 23-27 May. Preliminary results indicate coverage of 91 percent. For further information contact: igetachew@unicef.org

HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS CANCELLED

Several humanitarian missions to various parts of the country have been either cancelled or postponed due to post- election security concerns.